attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Since we're getting started again, and since I was stopped by a Texas State Trooper at the end of last year for the first time in 30 yrs. of towing, I have been checking up on my actual requirements. After getting kinda' pissy, the officer got pretty nice about the whole thing. He was an actual "weights & measures" officer, so he had all the books, charts, & 8X10 glossy's to explain my obligations. Now for all these years, I was under the impression that, since it was a personal rig & the actual weight was below 26K lbs., I was OK. Evidently, by law, this is not the case. I contacted a friend who is a retired weights and measures trooper. We talked and he agreed that they don't normally mess with rigs that look like private rigs if their not doing something wrong. He got me in touch with an officer to give me further info. What this man told me came as a shock. First, my trailer GVWR is 18K lbs. My truck is 10,5K, giving me a total of 28.5K That total requires me to have a CDL period. The real kicker is crossing state lines. He informed me that, if you cross state lines, the total permisable GVWR drops to 10K. If your over that you're required to have all kind of stuff. USDOT, some kind of "united carrier", log book, physicals, etc., etc. , and that's for anybody, in any state.

Anybody got any info on this??

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Don't know where the 10,000lbs is coming from You have to have a class A for your weight.

If the truck & trailer is registered in your name you do not need DOT regestration & are not subject to DOT rules such as log books fuel stickers etc. If truck & trailer are registered in a company name you do have to get a DOT # & go by there rules

DOT will tell you that you have to go by their rules because you are racing for prize money.

Federal Motor Carrier 390.3 says as long as you claim all monies won & do not claim expenses on you taxes you are exempy from DOT.

Bottem line I would stop at scales out of state to be safe.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Its always easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

When this flared up awhile ago, I thought this is just the kind of "member issue" that needs to be addressed nationally by NHRA and reported in Nat'l Dragster as a service to the members. NHRA should partner with NASCAR, SCCA and all "sportsman" series that involve hobby-racers using pick-ups/tow vehicles and trailers (not pro semis)....they should all have a vested interested in helping their members navigate national regulations, instead of individuals getting differing views from the local Barney Fife.

You'd think

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Charlie......did you offer him one of your MGD's while he was explaining all this to you???

RJ

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

In washington state any vehicle over 10,000 gvw can be considered a commercial vehicle and ticketed even though the sign's at the weigh station's say vehicles over 16,000 need to stop. I was ticketed for not having a log book and fought it all the way to the supreme court and lost, that means your 1 ton diesel with a trailer and racecar are over the limit! Carry a log book even if you don't fill it out, at least you can if you get pulled over. it's no fun when the state patrol **** tell's you your out of service until you can provide a log book..
I cross the border to race in canada and have been told that since I can win money I am considered a business and need to get authorization from the B.C goverment, I counter with the argument that if I was going to a casino to gamble would I be a business? they always say no ,so I tell them that racing is a gamble, I don't get paid to race I only get money if I win. They drop there questioning after that.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

The answer to this problem is to change the registration weight to a lesser amount on the trailer if you are under the rated max gvw. to bring the amount below the 26,000 lbs. I think Charlie normaly tows with one car.

Kirk, AKA, Mutt

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

I'd say with all the cut backs everyone's making their just looking for extra money..........And we are prime targets, if you can afford to race, you can afford one of these B.S. tickets. That's my take on this.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Phillip, your statements reflect exactly what the Texas weights & measures supervisor explained to me. After he told me about the Federal regulations, I ask him, 'You mean to tell me, that, if a person tows a bass boat, with a dually, across the state line, any state line, he's subject to all these regulations?". He said "By law, yes". He went on to say that, for the most part, scenarios like that aren't inforced.

Kirk, I always thought it was what you actually weighed. Over the years, racing 2 cars, I would periodically weigh my various rigs to make sure I was under 26K lbs. I've been to Ca. a couple of times from Texas and the AZ/CA inspections are some of the toughest. They've checked my registration, contents, & safety stuff a few times. I never had a problem. When I informed the Texas officer about this, he asked me "When was the last time you made that trip?". It's been over 15 yrs., and he informed me that the laws have changed. As far as registration, I had my trailer in for Hurricane Ike repairs and talked to the service guy about trailer ratings, and could they be changed. He said absolutely not. The axles are what they are and that determines the GVWR. I have 3-6K lb. axles thus the 18K lb. rating.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

A buddy of mine (Ed Chandler and his 82yo Mother) towed with a slant back car hauler with one car and pulled a 26' trailer with the other car got stopped in TN and was made to pay 300.00 for a fuel stamp...on the way back from the race he pulled in to the weigh station directly across the interstate form the one that stopped him on the way up and the agent on that side told him he did not need a fuel stamp.

It's the Government......have they ever known what they were doing?

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Hey Charlie give me a call at lunch time, iam a DOT inspecter. 210-887-3331

Kirk, AKA , Mutt

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Hope this helps. If you have a truck and trailer with a GCVWR under 25999 you do not need a CDL A license. If you are 26000 and over you will need a CDL A license and a DOT medical examiner certificate
(49CFR391.41-39.49). You will also be required to have a IFTA fuel tax sticker registed in your base state and fill out a log book. A DOT# is also required on all truck and trailers with GCVWR OF 10001lbs weather your for hire or not. You can look this up www.fmcsa.dot.gov or (518) 458-9696.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Do things change when you pull with a motorhome?

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Motor Homes are DOT exempt. I am 62,000 lbs do not stop at scales & do not have a Class A CDL. Not required in Va.

Some states like Penn. require a motor home license but that varies state to state

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Adger Lou is correct, states vary when length & weight are a factor. They have motor home endorsments in New york and you don't need a DOT# & fuel tax sticker. Go figure LOL. Contact you local dmv for info. John

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Any questions about Trk & Trl length and laws.....call Larry Allen! I hear is an expert!:eek:

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

It sure would be nice if there was a standardized set of rules that covered all of North America. On a related subject, would my truck and camper be considered a RV or a truck and what speed limit applies to RV's in the states with a different speed limit for trucks?

Jim Mantle

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Just curious,Anybody have a ballpark weight for a Dodge 4500 dually with a 42'LQ 5th wheel setup,one car about 3000K tools,spare motor about 400lbs,trans etc?Curious if it would require a Class A lic.


Ed F.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

DOT starts @ 10,000 lbs. One way that will probably get you out of a jam is to have at least enough tag to cover the weight of your truck and trailer. CDL starts @ 26k. Your combined GVW of your truck and trailer if over 26k makes you need the cdl. I sell a few trailers and the manufacturer can rate them less than the weight capacity of the axles. GVW is determined by axle capacity and frame. All truck manufactureres make a truck @ 25999 GVW. Quite legal. Maybe I could upgrade my paper I did for National Dragster and get them to print it again. This seems to come and go. Florida needs an overlength over 65 ft. Can get it on the net with a credit card. Cheap. You can't be a "little bit" under DOT. You really need it all. But they don't usually bother with us, thank goodness.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

So if the combined weight rating is over 26K a cdl1 is required?

Ed F.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Jim Mantle,

At least here on the west coast, a truck/camper towing a trailer is 55 mph
in California, in Nevada we can tow at 70 mph.

On the west coast the speed for towing is usually posted along side the hwy.

Personally I try to stay at 60 pmh while towing, I seem to get the best MPG
at that speed. But then I've seen guys towing at 80 MPH too.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Deleted. Trying the theory of if I can't say something good then don't say anything. Truely sorry if I offended anyone.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Michigan has its defined on their website:

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7...1609--,00.html

"Exemptions:

The following people do not need a CDL:

Individuals: Operating motor homes or other vehicles used exclusively to transport personal possessions or family members, for non-business purposes."

Guess I'll keep a copy of that in my motorhome.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Tim, If you deal with DOT people in the state you are driving in, there are different rules for the state and fed`s , I haul cars[semi 9 cars] for a living and the dot man think they are right and you are wrong, If you have company or business name on your registration; pickup , truck ,or toter home, you need a dot number on your truck no matter what you weight, log book, itfa if diesel and if you go out of home state, tri. reflector`s and fire extinguisher, medical card if over 26,000, I got a ticket in my pickup pulling my car dolly yesterday for not posting dot number on side of pickup and i have a dot number, also in Ne. if you are over 65 feet you to have have commerical plates, motor home or toter home, no rv plates.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Thanks Tom - My class A gas motorhome and trailer come in a little under 65' and everything is in my personal name. No logos on trailer, nothing but contingency decals on race car (and less of those all the time). We do carry the safety items (flares, tri-reflector and fire extinguishers).

Was considering a trailer toad but that would take me over 65'

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

If the GVWR of your truck and trailer are over 26k, you need a cdl. If your vehicle (tow vehicle) is in a company name, you have to comply with DOT regs which begin @ 10K. This includes motor homes. What I do is my leasing company leases my motor home and trailer to me personally and I insure it personally and have no names on the side of either. This should put me under the exemption allowed. And my stuff is licensed in my state which like most states has no weight limit on motor homes. I think New York has something on drivers license's over some limit. Last year when I was wearing out the phones and emails to Florida, the notice to NHRA was to notify the pros that there was a 65' limit. When I finally got the right guy he said there were not going to chase down race car tow rigs to measure them. However if you were stopped for something else, the you might get a look. If you use a pickup truck then I would suggest you have enough tag to cover what you weigh. It's not expensive and gives you a chance to argue.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Maybe I'm still missing something.Jeff when you say I would need a CDL is that a class A or Class B.license?

Ed

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

You would need a class A because you are pulling a trailer, class B is for a straight truck

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Thank you .

Ed F.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Hey Ed if you are in a jam and need a CDL A driver to get your rig to the races give me a call. That's for any Div 1 racer also. Look's like I'll be parked for most of the season, John

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Think of all the money this can generate from vaguely written rules.................sound familiar?

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Yeah written like a union contract. Grey areas and never to the point.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

When I ordered my 48' Haulmark trailer, it came 48'10". that puts my truck and trailer at 65'7". I know I am over the 26k limit. No stickers on the truck or trailer. not going to put any on them either. So I am 7" over length and 3k over weight. So I guess I better start saving for the ticket I am about to get, LOL.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

I'm in exactly the same boat. Length 67' weight 31,000 pounds. I have a Florida over length permit Just hope I don't get hasseled for the weight. Axle by axle I'm not overweight Ford F550 chassis cab and and 48' LQ gooseneck with triple 7,000 pound axles. No lettering on the truck or trailer. And the living quarters are 22' with a slideout. If I get stopped it's a travel trailer with my show car in it.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Art and Bobby, In some states if you need to have a CDL license, for your truck and if you get stopped and they check your license. they can park you, until you get someone with CDL to drive your truck; Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri will do this, I had to go rescue a freind in Missouri. one day, Tom

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Who ever heard of racing a "NEON" lol

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

I hauled cars on a 48 ft flatbed trailer behind a ext cab Dodge dually for most part of a year... I had way more run ins with DOT than I care to remember...I was not required to have CDL. I drove with a class D commercial. Truck was tagged for 26000 Truck was rated at 10500 lbs trailer was triple axel.... I had rating changed to 15000 lbs which put me at 25,500 I passed a dozen DOT inspections.... I did have log book & dot numbers on truck as I was operating commercially. I hauled my race car to several events & had other cars on trailer....when I unloaded the other cars & only had my race car on the trailer ...I went out of service in my log book, pulled magnetic signs off the truck & hauled azz....feel free to contact me for more info ...if needed

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Texas is pretty lenient as long as your not making an ***** out of your self. go the speed limit and use your blinkers when you cut somebody off.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Phil, i've had that same hassle from US Customs. They asked if there is prize money. I said I didn't know, i'm not at the track yet. I thought i'd get waterboarded but the four of the them just browbeat me until I offered up that there "probably is prize money but i'm not very likely to win any".
They made me pay $100 for a work visa/green card that they said was good for the year. That was the rest of the year. It was the end of October and the final race of the year at SIR which I got to just as first round and the rain started.

Re: attn Jeff Teuton Towing "Again"
 

Very confusing.Everyone you talk to has a different opinion.I was told motor home exempt but then I was told if the total rig over 26k needed a special NY R endoesement so I go to the DMV and they have no idea what I am talking about.I look up the law and find the endorsement.Have to take a written and road test in the RV.(guy made me parallel park it) and then they give you an R endorsement.Next I am told by one so called expert if you are private RV registered in your name no lenght rules and another expert says there are length rules and a third expert says if you are on an interstate or access road to interstate no length rules.WTF.